Ukraine reported that a Russian drone struck a facility storing nuclear fuel near the Chornobyl nuclear plant, raising concerns over the safety of the site that was the scene of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
The Target – Spent fuel storage in the exclusion zone
The drone hit a storage building for spent nuclear fuel inside the 30-kilometer exclusion zone that surrounds the decommissioned Chornobyl plant. The facility holds used fuel rods from the reactor that melted down in 1986. A breach of such storage could release radioactive particles into the environment.
Ukrainian authorities said the strike occurred in the early hours of the day. They did not release immediate details on the extent of the damage or whether any radiation had leaked.
What Ukraine's report says
Ukraine's government issued a brief statement confirming the drone attack on the fuel storage site. The statement did not mention casualties or specify which type of drone was used. It said no radiation spike had been detected so far but that inspectors were on-site to assess.
Russia has not commented on the report. The strike comes amid an increase in drone operations near Ukraine's border regions and critical infrastructure.
A sensitive site under constant watch
The Chornobyl site remains heavily guarded and monitored, even 38 years after the disaster. Spent fuel is kept in both dry cask containers and cooling ponds. Any direct hit on the storage area could disrupt safety systems, though the facilities were designed to withstand external threats.
International nuclear safety bodies were not immediately available for comment on the incident. Ukraine's atomic energy operator said it was reviewing the structural integrity of the building.
The condition of the storage facility and any potential environmental impact remain unclear. Ukrainian teams are assessing the damage.
